NY Lobbyist$ Get Richer

The state Lobbying Commission released its annual report today, which found a record $149 million was spent on lobbying inÂ 2005 -Â up $5 million from 2004.

The jump was fueled by the NYC West Side stadium fight, where opponentsÂ far outspent supporters – $12.6 million byÂ CSC Holdings, the parent of Cablevision and another $6.1 million by Madison Square Garden comparedÂ to $5.5 million by the New York Jets. The team wanted the deal to go through so they could get a new home.

Lynch’s stable includes a host of political insiders and refugees from state government:Â

Sam NeJame, onetime assistant corporation counsel to ex-Syracuse Mayor Roy Bernardi; Patrick McCarthy, former patronage czar for Gov. George Pataki and onetime executive director of the state GOP; as well as Jerry Jennings Jr., son of Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings; former state Assemblyman Michael Spano; Allison Lee, former staffer to (and I believe, as of last month, the wife of) U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-NY; and Christopher Bombardier, who worked for state Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, D-Albany.